The New York Jets are heading into an offseason full of questions, especially at the quarterback position, though the organization has already made a move at the position.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pellisero, the Jets have signed free agent quarterback Bailey Zappe, a veteran journeyman at the position who has made 15 NFL appearances throughout his career.
The Jets went 3-14 last season, using quarterbacks Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and Brady Cook as the three main signal callers.
Fields and Taylor battled injuries at multiple points this season, and their play, even when healthy, was among the worst in the NFL.
Fields and Cook are both under contract for the 2026 season, though Tyrod Taylor is a free agent, and considering the addition of Zappe, it may signal that the Jets will be moving on from Taylor.
Fields has a $23 million salary figure for 2026, and his deal can become void after the season, which will result in a $9 million dead money hit for 2027.
Zappe has gone 208-of-335 for 2,223 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions throughout his NFL career. He has made eight starts with the New England Patriots and one start for the Cleveland Browns during the last game of the 2024 season.
After the season, he signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, though he was waived before the start of the season.
In August, he signed a deal with the Browns to join the practice squad.
What is next for the Jets?
While Zappe provides depth at the quarterback position, he is far from the ideal answer to the Jets’ quarterback woes. Further steps will need to be taken to ensure that another year of poor quarterback play does not happen.
General manager Darren Mougey outlined the search process after the season, making it clear that a significant focus will be on securing a long-term option.
“I can tell you this, we’ll exhaust every option,” Mougey told reporters. “You know, free agency, the league, obviously the draft, we will exhaust that and have a good solution for the New York Jets.
“Yeah, we’re going through that process this week as the whole roster. We’re going to evaluate every position on the team. And obviously we’ve got to be better. We’ve got to be better at several spots, quarterback included.”
The biggest question mark for the Jets is what they do with Justin Fields. They can cut him to save $1 million against the cap heading into the season or do a post-June 1 cut, which will drop his number to $13 million this upcoming season, with the remaining $10 million being spread out in the future.
Given Field’s struggles, it is hard to see him entering the season as the starter. At the very least, he may get a chance to compete, but more likely, he will be cut or traded as the organization looks to move on.
